As technology advances at a speed matched only by the expansion of the federal government, conservatives on Capitol Hill have been actively opposing measures they view as encroachments into personal freedoms.
One contentious issue has been the proposal for vehicle “kill switches”—systems that would automatically shut down a car if it detects signs of drunk driving. Critics on the right argue such technology constitutes an overreach by federal authorities, but Rep. Tom Massie’s attempt to repeal the rule was defeated in a recent House vote.
Fifty-seven House Republicans voted with most Democrats Thursday to maintain the Biden-era mandate requiring new vehicles manufactured after 2026 to include this safety feature. “Federal law says new cars after 2026 must monitor drivers and shut down if the car disapproves,” Massie wrote on social media. “Your dashboard should not be judge, jury, and executioner.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the rule as an example of excessive government control.